Rail mount point detector for railroad switches

ABSTRACT

A point detector device for use in detecting the position of a switch point in a railway system includes a frame and a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame. The point detector bar is structured to be selectively coupled to the switch point of the railway system. The point detector device further includes a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame. The frame includes a coupling mechanism structured to rigidly couple the frame to a fixed rail of the railway system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to railway monitoring apparatus and, more particularly to a rail mounted point detector device. The present invention also relates to detection and railway switching systems employing such rail mounted point detector device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous different types of railroad switching equipment are known and understood in the railroad arts. It is generally understood that a railroad switch apparatus is employed to switch a train from a first set of fixed railroad tracks onto a fixed second set of railroad tracks. Such a railroad switch apparatus typically includes a pair of movable rails, a switch machine for moving the rails, a detection device for detecting the position of the rails, and assorted connective hardware that extends between the movable rails, the switch machine, and the detection device for various purposes. The switch machine provides the forces necessary to move the movable rails between a first position and a second position and to lock the movable rails in the first and second positions. The detection device monitors the position of the movable rails relative to at least one of the first and second sets of fixed railroad tracks.

It is also known that railroad equipment including railroad switch apparatuses are typically subjected to extreme punishment and distortions due to the substantial forces and vibrations transmitted from passing railroad trains, as well as severe environmental conditions including heat, snow, and ice which can greatly distort and wear components. Railroad equipment thus is preferably designed and configured generally to resist the effects of such harsh conditions, and to perform reliably under such conditions.

It is further known that railroad tracks and other related equipment extend across many remote regions, commonly referred to as “dark territory”, and that trains commonly travel on such remote tracks at all hours of the day and night. As such, railroad personnel must be available to inspect and, if necessary, repair railroad equipment at numerous remote locations at any hour. As the skill level of railroad maintenance personnel varies greatly, railroad equipment is preferably of a relatively simple configuration that can be repaired with a minimal number of tools in order to limit the number of potential points of failure of such railroad equipment and to facilitate repair by virtually any railroad personnel no matter the skill level or the quantity of tools available to such personnel.

In order to ensure the proper functioning of railroad switch apparatuses in all types of weather conditions and to resist breakage and maladjustment of such switch apparatuses, the connective hardware that extends between a switch machine and a pair of movable rails has typically included connecting rods that have been substantially rigidly connected with function rods that are part of the switch machine and that are movable with respect to other parts of the switch machine. While such rigid connections generally enhance the reliability of railroad switch apparatuses, such rigid connections nevertheless increase the difficulty and expense of installing and maintaining railroad equipment due to the degree of alignment that must be attained between the switch machine and the movable tracks.

During installation and replacement of conventional railroad switch apparatuses, special care is required to align the switch machine with the movable tracks in order to ensure that the connective hardware that is rigidly connected between the switch machine and the movable tracks is properly connected, and that such connective hardware operates properly without the components thereof or the movable tracks binding during operation. Commonly, such conventional switch machines and detection devices are mounted a distance from the rails of the railroad, typically on the wooden ties to which the rails were mounted or on cement pads near the wooden ties, with the base of the switch machine needing to be aligned either flush with the lower surfaces of the tracks or at a given vertical distance from such lower surfaces. Installation and alignment of such devices typically is burdensome and costly to achieve during initial construction, and is particularly difficult and time consuming after repair or replacement of existing devices due to the gradual deterioration of railroad ties and the difficulty of reliably employing such ties to align and accurately position detection with railroad tracks.

Accordingly, there is room for improvement in switch machines and in structures that facilitate installation of switch machines and connections thereof with the movable tracks of a railroad switch apparatus while providing the necessary reliability and resistance to the effects of environmental conditions in which the switch apparatus is employed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention improves upon known designs by providing a point detector device and a railway switching system.

As one aspect of the invention, a point detector device for use in detecting the position of a switch point in a railway system is provided. The point detector device comprises: a frame; a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar structured to be selectively coupled to the switch point; and a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame. The frame includes a coupling mechanism structured to rigidly couple the frame to a fixed rail of the railway system.

The coupling mechanism may be structured to coupled a portion of the frame below the fixed rail of the railway system.

The frame may comprise an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein.

The frame may be structured to position the enclosed portion in close proximity to the fixed rail.

The coupling mechanism may comprise a first flange member and a second flange member, the first flange member being structured to couple the frame to a first portion of a base of the fixed rail and the second flange member being structured to couple the frame to a second portion of the base of the fixed rail member.

The first portion of the base may be disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base may be disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web.

The first flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame.

The first flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame.

As another aspect of the invention, a railway switching system is provided. The railway switching system comprises: a fixed rail member; a switch point moveable with respect to the fixed rail member; and a point detector device. The point detector device comprises: a frame; a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar selectively coupled to the switch point; and a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame. The frame is rigidly coupled to the fixed rail member via a coupling mechanism.

The coupling mechanism may couple a portion of the frame below the fixed rail member.

The frame may comprise an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein.

The enclosed portion may be disposed in close proximity to the fixed rail member.

The fixed rail may comprise a base having a first portion and a second portion, the coupling mechanism may comprise a first flange member and a second flange member, and the first flange member may be coupled to the first portion of the base rail and the second flange member may be coupled to the second portion of the base.

The first portion of the base may be disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base may be disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web.

The first flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to the frame.

The first flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and the second flange member may be selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a railroad including a railroad switch detection system in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the railroad switch detection system of FIG. 1 showing a coupling mechanism and associated members; and

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the railroad and railroad switch detection system of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “connected” or “coupled” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts. Further, as employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “attached” shall mean that the parts are joined together directly. Identical parts are provided with the same reference number in all figures.

As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).

A railroad switch detection system 4 in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally in the plan view of FIG. 1. As will be set forth more fully below, the railroad switch detection system 4 advantageously includes a coupling mechanism 8 in accordance with the present invention. As will be better appreciated from the description herein, the inclusion of the coupling mechanism 8 and other components of the railroad switch detection system 4 facilitates the initial assembly and installation as well as the operation, maintenance and repair of the railroad switch detection system 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the railroad switch detection system 4 is employed in conjunction with a portion of a railroad track that is depicted as including a plurality of ties 16 and a pair stock rails 18 and 20 that are fixedly mounted on the ties 16. It is understood that an additional pair of stationary stock rails (not shown) extend generally away from the railroad switch detection system 4 in addition to the stock rails 18 and 20.

The railroad switch detection system 4 includes a pair of movable rails 22 and 24 which are movable between a first position (FIG. 1) in which the movable rail 22 is engaged with the stock rail 18 and a second position (not shown) in which the movable rail 24 is engaged with the stock rail 20. Such alternate engagement of the movable rails 22 and 24 with the stock rails 18 and 20, respectively, according to operation of a switching apparatus 26 coupled with the movable rails 22 and 24 permits a train to be switched from one set of fixed tracks onto a second set of fixed tracks according to known principles. Due to their switching function, movable rails 22 and 24 may commonly be referred to as switch points. Switching apparatus 26 may comprise a manually operated or automated switching mechanism, such as known in the art, without varying from the scope of the present invention. Movable rails 22 and 24 are also operatively connected with a point detector bar 28 of a point detector device 30 via coupling mechanism 8, which accommodates the numerous directions in which a switch point may move in the course of operation while avoiding binding between the switch point and the point detector bar 28. A non-limiting example of a suitable coupling mechanism 8 and related components is described in the U.S. patent application entitled “SWIVEL POINT CONNECTOR FOR RAILROAD SWITCHES” filed concurrently herewith.

Point detector device 30 may comprise one or more sensors or sensing devices 32 (shown schematically in hidden line in FIG. 2) which are suitable for detecting the movement and/or relative positioning of a portion (shown in hidden line adjacent sensors 32 in FIG. 3) of point detector bar 28, which is movably (in the illustrated embodiment slidably) coupled to point detector device 30. As shown in the illustrated example embodiment, sensor devices 32 may be disposed within an enclosed portion 34 provided on, or integrated with, a frame 36 which forms the bulk of point detector device 30. It is to be appreciated that the present invention contemplates that various sensor/point detector bar arrangements may be employed without varying from the scope of the present invention. Non-limiting examples of suitable sensor arrangements are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,688,559 and 6,585,194 which are commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a portion of frame 36 is rigidly coupled directly to, and beneath, fixed rail 18 via a coupling mechanism 38. Such arrangement provides for enclosed portion 34 to be positioned in close proximity to fixed rail 18. In the illustrated example embodiment, coupling mechanism 38 includes a first flange member 40 and a second flange member 42, both of which are selectively coupled to a top portion (not numbered) of frame 36 via a number of bolts 43 or other suitable fasteners. First flange member 40 is structured to couple the frame 36 to a first portion 44 of a base 46 of the fixed rail 18, and the second flange member 42 is structured to couple the frame 36 to a second portion 48 of the base 46 of the fixed rail 18. As shown in FIG. 3, preferably the first and second portions 44 and 48 are disposed on either side of a vertical web 50 of the fixed rail 18, thus providing an extremely reliable, rigid coupling of frame 36, and thus point detector device 30, to fixed rail 18.

It is to be appreciated that a point detector device as described herein may be readily retrofit to existing railways typically by simply removing some gravel or other fill from between adjacent ties and then coupling the frame to the fixed rail and coupling the point detector rod to the switch point. By securing the point detector device directly to the rail, a more reliable monitoring situation is provided as compared to situations where the detector is secured to ties or remote pads that may deteriorate or shift relative to the fixed rail, thus rendering the readings from the detector worthless.

While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A point detector device for use in detecting the position of a switch point in a railway system, the point detector device comprising: a frame; a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar structured to be selectively coupled to the switch point; and a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame, wherein the frame includes a coupling mechanism structured to rigidly couple the frame to a fixed rail of the railway system.
 2. The point detector device of claim 1 wherein the coupling mechanism is structured to coupled a portion of the frame below the fixed rail of the railway system.
 3. The point detector device of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein.
 4. The point detector device of claim 3 wherein the frame is structured to position the enclosed portion in close proximity to the fixed rail.
 5. The point detector device of claim 2 wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a first flange member and a second flange member, the first flange member being structured to couple the frame to a first portion of a base of the fixed rail and the second flange member being structured to couple the frame to a second portion of the base of the fixed rail member.
 6. The point detector device of claim 5 wherein the first portion of the base is disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base is disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web.
 7. The point detector device of claim 5 wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member is selectively coupled to the frame.
 8. The point detector device of claim 7 wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and wherein the second flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame.
 9. A railway switching system comprising: a fixed rail member; a switch point moveable with respect to the fixed rail member; and a point detector device comprising: a frame; a point detector bar slidably coupled to the frame, the point detector bar selectively coupled to the switch point; and a number of sensors coupled to the frame, the number of sensors being adapted to detect the position of the point detector bar with respect to the frame, wherein the frame is rigidly coupled to the fixed rail member via a coupling mechanism.
 10. The railway switching system of claim 9 wherein the coupling mechanism couples a portion of the frame below the fixed rail member.
 11. The railway switching system of claim 9 wherein the frame comprises an enclosed portion having the number of sensors and a portion of the point detector bar disposed therein.
 12. The railway switching system of claim 11 wherein the enclosed portion is disposed in close proximity to the fixed rail member.
 13. The railway switching system of claim 10 wherein the fixed rail comprises a base having a first portion and a second portion; wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a first flange member and a second flange member; and wherein the first flange member is coupled to the first portion of the base rail and the second flange member is coupled to the second portion of the base.
 14. The railway switching system of claim 13 wherein the first portion of the base is disposed on one side of a vertical web of the rail and the second portion of the base is disposed on the opposite side of the vertical web.
 15. The railway switching system of claim 13 wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to the frame and the second flange member is selectively coupled to the frame.
 16. The railway switching system of claim 15 wherein the first flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame and wherein the second flange member is selectively coupled to a top portion of the frame. 